Practical Exercises in Elementary MeteorologyWard, Robert DeCourcy
Science
Practical Exercises in Elementary Meteorology
Ward, Robert DeCourcy
Meteorology
The humidity of the air, as determined by the wet and dry-bulb
thermometers or the sling psychrometer, and the occurrence or absence of
dew or frost, should be studied together. Observations should be made at
different hours, in different kinds of weather, and in different seasons.
From such observations the following problems may be solved:——
_A._ =Diurnal Variation of Relative Humidity under Different
Conditions.=——Readings of the wet and dry-bulb thermometers in the
instrument shelter, or of the sling psychrometer, several times during the
day, will furnish data for determining the diurnal variation of relative
humidity. Classify your observations according to the weather conditions
under which they were made, and by months or seasons. Summarize the
results of your investigation, paying special attention to the relation
between the diurnal variation of relative humidity and the temperature.
The variations of relative humidity are generally the reverse of those of
absolute humidity. In the case of the latter the average diurnal
variations are small. The fluctuations in the relative humidity during
the day on the northwestern coast of Europe amount to about 7% in
December and 17% in August, while in central Asia they average about 25%
in winter and 50% in summer.
_B._ =Relation of Relative Humidity to the Direction of the
Wind.=——Observations by means of the wet and dry-bulb thermometers in the
shelter, or by means of the sling psychrometer, supplemented by records of
wind direction, will furnish data for the solution of this problem.
Tabulate your observations according to wind directions and seasons.
Determine the characteristics of the different winds as to their relative
humidities. Consider the control of these winds and humidity conditions by
cyclones and anticyclones.
The warm wave, or sirocco, in front of our winter cyclones in the eastern
United States is a damp, disagreeable, irritating wind. In summer, the
sirocco is usually dry, and during the prevalence of such winds we have
our hottest spells, when sunstrokes are not uncommon. In southern Italy
the sirocco has the same position with reference to the controlling
cyclone. There the wind is often so dry as seriously to injure
vegetation. The cold wave, on the rear of our winter cyclones, with its
low temperature and dry air, often comes as a refreshing change after the
enervating warmth of the preceding sirocco. Our feelings of bodily
comfort or discomfort are thus in a large measure dependent upon the
humidity and the movement of the air.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account